Best of Washington 2026

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Eat and Drink

Best Restaurant Vibe

La’ Shukran

Best New Sushi Spot

Maru San

Carlos Delgado has mastered the mod-Peruvian menu at the tasting room Causa. Now, at this dark, tiny, no-reservations counter in Capitol Hill, he turns his attention to another facet of Peruvian cuisine: Nikkei-style handrolls. Cylinders of shatteringly crisp nori are filled with rice and a bounty of fillings and handed to you as they’re made. Go for the version with shrimp and black-mint aïoli or the Old Bay–spiced riff with jumbo lump crab, or opt for a $37 set of six.

Best Fast-Food Riff

FiLao-O-Fish at Baan Mae

Even the most serious of chefs love fast food, so it’s no wonder that fancy riffs populate so many restaurant menus. But the one we can’t stop thinking about is chef Seng Luangrath’s Lao upgrade of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich. The “#EatMoreInvasive” special combines fried catfish with tofu mayo, pickled daikon, and green-chili sauce on milk-bread sliders. Crunchy, soft, creamy, tangy, spicy—we’re loving it.

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Things to Do

Besst Hidden-Gem Tour

The Secret Civil War Fort

An astounding number of forts—68—protected the nation’s capital during the Civil War. That’s but one tidbit revealed on this 90-minute tour offered by Slate Political Gabfest host David Plotz. Most of the forts are long gone, though their legacies survive through neighborhood and park names, and Plotz explores the site of Fort DeRussy, “one of the least known, yet most consequential, battles of the Civil War.” He spins a vivid tale of DC in wartime and why the mound of ground in Rock Creek Park mattered. Tickets ($40 for ages 16 and up) are on Eventbrite.

Best Tiny Attraction

Dinosaur Pocket Park

Created by a local boy and his mother, the prehistoric pocket park is home to dozens of toy dinosaurs. Take one as a memento or leave one behind for a neighbor. Located just a mile from the spot where real dinosaur bones were found, the minuscule park is part of the “Sidewalk Joy” movement, a grassroots effort to bring joy to spaces near paths.

Best Oversize Attraction

Giant Gumball Machine at the Riggs

One of the city’s fanciest hotels is also one of the most whimsical. Hidden among the chandeliers and marble columns is a giant gumball machine that holds 70,000 to 75,000 free multicolor gumballs. A bowl nearby holds tokens to dispense the treats. Continue to play with scale at the nearby Museum of Illusions.

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What To Know

Best Artistic Protests

Sculptures

Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office spiced up DC’s public-art game. Protesters are securing First Amendment permits to build guerrilla-style resistance art around the National Mall. An anonymous group called the Secret Handshake is behind several headline-making installations, including a sculpture of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein skipping hand in hand and a gold-and-marble toilet inspired by the President’s Lincoln Bedroom bathroom renovation. It hasn’t stopped at statues: A playable arcade game parodying America’s invasion of Iran popped up at the US War Memorial in May.

Best Meet-Cute

Heated Rivalry Look-alike Contest

It’s hard to overstate the chokehold Heated Rivalry had on us this year. While fans were thirst-posting about the hockey romance online, Aram Matagi and Felix Eller proved that, sometimes, life imitates art. The couple met at Wunder Garten’s look-alike contest in April, winning for their resemblance to brooding lovers Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. After sealing the victory with a kiss, they went on an eight-hour first date, followed by a rink-side appearance at a hockey game and an UberEats campaign. Is this the most committed PR stunt in local history or are they in it for The Long Game ? Either way, we’re hooked.

Best Use of Gen-Z Slang

National Gallery of Art Reels

The curators at the National Gallery of Art have mastered the craft of using Gen-Zisms on Instagram Reels to introduce younger audiences to classical art. Scroll through the videos to see curator Alison Luchs describe 16th-century works as “freshly yassified” and “aura farming.” One Reel garnered more than 10 million views, and Luchs even won a 2026 Webby Award for her hilariously deadpan delivery.

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Shop

Best Museum Gift Shop

National Building Museum

Whether you’re exploring the museum or just looking for a great present, this shop is worth a stop. It’s a dream for fans of architecture and city planning, but there’s something for everyone, from puzzles to home goods. A few favorites: a water bottle printed with the addresses of public water fountains, a chic green vase that grows an avocado from a single pit, and a colorful set of Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired chopsticks.

Best Stationery Store

Penny Post

This Alexandria treasure trove is chock-full of beautiful greeting cards, stationery sets, planners, notebooks, ultra-chic office supplies—including high-end pens—and other gifts. The locally owned business, whose two sister shops include nearby Red Barn Mercantile and Pippin Toy Co., also hosts events—most recently, a correspondence club, a calligraphy class, and a series about fountains pens “for pen, ink, and paper nerds.”

Best Cookware Shop

Hill’s Kitchen

Just last year, this nearly 20-year-old gourmet cookware store changed hands from its original owner to two alums of the restaurants Tail Up Goat and Reveler’s Hour. A beloved neighborhood haunt, the shop offers everything you could need to outfit your kitchen, from steel pans to Staub bakeware. Learn new techniques in culinary classes—recent workshops included pasta-making, fermentation, and knife work—or join the cookbook club.

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